Top 10 Kid Friendly Dogs

by Amy Tokic

Updated: March 28th, 2022 Published: January 7th, 2014

These kid friendly dogs are perfect for children of all ages

The kids have been bugging you night and day for a dog. You are about to give in. But what kind of dog breed should you get? As part of your checklist of the perfect dog for your family, you need to know which breeds will be a better fit for your kids. Here’s our top 10 list of kid friendly dogs. (Photo credit: Khakimullin Aleksandr/Shutterstock)

Vizsla: Not one of the most well-known dog breeds, the Vizsla has a wonderful disposition. Loyal, gentle, affectionate and quiet, the Vizsula will be a great playmate for your children. This smart dog is easy to train, picks up on obedience skills quickly and will form a close bond with every member of the family. (©iStock.com/TonicShooter)

Poodle: What a versatile pooch! The Poodle fits into many households because of its hypoallergenic coat, its gentle nature and it ability to pick up on training quickly. His good nature makes him a logical choice for rambunctious young ones, and he never gets annoyed or bored during playtime. (Photo credit: Eric Isselee/Shutterstock)

Labrador Retriever: Being a kid friendly dog is just one of the reasons why the Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog in the U.S. Boasting a sweet and patient personality, the Lab is protective, playful, loving and reliable. You can rest easy knowing that your kids are under the protective watch of the Labrador Retriever. (Photo credit: Marina Jay/Shutterstock)

Newfoundland: A gentle giant, it’s in the Newfoundland nature to look after children. Don’t let his big size scare you off – he’s loving, patient and protective. He’ll want to be around the family at all times, to watch over you and make sure that everyone under his watch is safe. (Photo credit: Keith Gentry/Shutterstock)

Miniature Schnauzer: Smart and cheerful, this smaller breed is outgoing and protective, making his the perfect pal for your kids. They do well in houses and apartments, as long as they’ve got kids to play with. And allergy suffers will love the fact that the Miniature Schnauzer sheds very little. (©iStock.com/elliotwestacott)

Golden Retriever: Much like the Labrador Retriever, the Golden Retriever is extremely patient, loving and protective. A great swimmer, they will paddle around with your kids in the water and rarely run out of energy. Let them tire themselves out in the yard with endless games of fetch and tag. (Photo credit: Christian Mueller/Shutterstock)

Maltese: Playful, gentle and cheerful, the Maltese loves to learn and play. Even though he boasts long, silky hair that needs to be maintained, this could be a wonderful bonding experience for your dog and child. You can expect this breed to be your child’s furry little shadow. (Photo credit: Eric Isselee/Shutterstock)

Boxer: Full of boundless energy and playfulness, the Boxer is the ideal friend for your kids. He’s friendly and always ready to lick a boo-boo or tearful face. Even though he’s ready for adventure, the Boxer makes a great protector and guardian. This athletic breed will give your kids a run for their money with his goofy and fun-loving antics. (Photo credit: Lebedinski Vladislav/Shutterstock)

Beagle: He may have started off as a hunting dog, but the Beagle has made his ways into the hearts of parents and children everywhere. Smart, friendly, and happy, the Beagle is one of the most popular kid friendly breeds around the world. With his sturdy build, the Beagle is up for a rough-and-tumble game – and with his limitless store of energy, he’ll play energetically until the kids are pooped. (Photo credit: Jagodka/Shutterstock)

Bull Terrier: If you’ve got a large family, the Bull Terrier is the dog for you. You may think that this is an aggressive dog, but the opposite is true – the Bull Terrier is bred to be a companion. He is friendly to everyone he meets and loves his family to distraction. Sturdy and well built, this breed also has a high tolerance for pain – perfect for kids who may get a little too excited. You’ll find this dog to be protective of your children, but be warned… he needs lots of play time to get all his energy spent. (Photo credit: Eric Isselee/Shutterstock)

Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

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Top 10 Hearing Ear Dogs

Hearing ear dogs are specially trained to be of service to deaf or hearing impaired people by alerting them to sounds or responding to commands given in sign language. This role requires the dog to be well-balanced, have a keen sense of sound, and intelligent- and these 10 breeds fit the bill perfectly. There’s no secret that dogs improve the quality of our lives, even “just” as pets, but when they are trained as service dogs, the benefit they bring into the daily life of some people can be astounding. Hearing ear dogs or service dogs for hearing impaired people are dogs trained to support and assist people who are deaf or hard of hearing by alerting them to sounds they wouldn’t be able to hear but need to, such as the smoke alarm, doorbell, or phone. When the hearing ear dog registers a sound he’s trained to recognize as important, they will alert their owner by nudging them with their nose or paw, or leading them towards or away from the sound if need be. In addition to alerting hearing-impaired people to sounds, hearing ear dogs can also be trained to respond to American Sign Language in case their owner is non-verbal as well. To become hearing service dogs, canines have to go through a specific type of training that can last up to 16 months. The training is centered around teaching the dogs to perform specific tasks that would be of help to hearing-impaired people, but that’s not the only thing that these service dogs are taught. First, they go through basic socialization and obedience training which is the foundation for every service dog to be able to fulfill its role. These dogs will grow up to be friendly, well-mannered, adaptable to different scenarios, and obedient to their owner, knowing commands such as sit, stay, fetch, and other specific ones that make them hearing ear dogs. Naturally, not all dogs are cut out for this role. Some breeds are more suited for the job of hearing ear dogs than others, and that’s mostly because of their innate character. These dogs have a stable character, they are friendly and have a people-pleasing nature, they are alert and intelligent, confident, and focused on the work at hand. Another important trait of a service dog for the hearing impaired is that they are naturally attuned to pay attention to sounds, which is common for some breeds originally bred for hunting purposes, for instance. As a result of their unique personalities, these breeds are much easier to train and much more successful in fulfilling their role as hearing ear dogs. Here are the top 10 hearing ear dogs – read on to learn more about the best breeds for service dogs for hearing impaired people. Golden Retriever

Top 10 Best Indoor Dogs

Need a couch-surfing pal? Perhaps one who is covered with fur for optimal snuggling? Hey, we get it. The outdoors aren’t for everyone and that’s true of dogs as well! So check out our picks for the best indoor dogs! With the prices of houses skyrocketing, it’s little wonder that more of us can only afford small living spaces in high rises. Sadly, some people think that they can’t own a dog if they live in a small urban space. Sure, if you live in an apartment or even just an urban setting, you may not have the luxury of a fenced yard or even much outdoor space. But the fact that your living space doesn’t include a spacious yard or an outdoor enclosure shouldn’t mean that you can’t have a pup. Provided that all of their needs are met, there are pooches who would be perfectly happy being a primarily indoor only pet. Looks like you need our list of best indoor dogs. In cases like this, it is important to pick a dog who doesn’t mind spending the bulk of his time indoors. There are various factors that you need to consider to make sure you’re making the right decision, such as the dog’s energy levels, exercise needs, and space requirements. To save you the time you would have spent to research numerous breeds online, we’ve put together our Top 10 list of Best Indoor Dogs – ideal for people who don’t like to adventure outside that much or who don’t want to keep going up and down 20 flights of stairs! There are dogs for every owner and every home. The key is simply doing the research and finding the right pupper! Indoor dogs are certainly out there. You just need to find yours. (Photo credit: buchsammy/Bigstock.com) A Few Things to Think About When Choosing an Indoor Dog There are a few things that you should think about as you work on choosing the indoor dog breed that will fit in perfectly with the rest of your household. All dogs are different after all. Even indoor dogs come in a variety of bodies and personalities. So, before you dive into our slideshow to learn about a few of the breeds that have been deemed the best choices for those who spend a lot of time indoors, it’s wise to consider the following: Size: The most obvious factor to consider when considering an indoor dog, some dogs are simply going to have a more challenging time fitting into a smaller living space. This isn’t to say that a large dog can’t be low-energy and low-key. Quite the opposite! However, we sometimes have to work within limited space which can be difficult if your dog truly takes up half of your living room. Most dog parents that are looking for an indoor dog are also looking for a dog that’s small enough to curl up next to you on the couch for some relaxing downtime.Barking Habits: Whether you’re living in an apartment in a multi-family house, you’re in a townhouse, or you’re residing in a condo, you’ll have neighbors on the other side of the wall. So it goes without saying that a dog that barks a lot won’t make your neighbors happy. Choose a dog that is known for being rather quiet. A breed that doesn’t bark loudly or often is ideal in these situations.Attitude Towards Strangers: Another thing to consider is how well a particular dog breed gets along with strangers, especially if you are living in an apartment complex where your pooch will be exposed to new people all the time. You don’t want your dog to get stressed out by people he doesn’t know and you certainly don’t want to frighten other people when your dog is around. Dogs are supposed to bring joy to your neighbours! So, your move is to choose a breed that tends to do well around people of all ages and one who isn’t afraid of making new friends everywhere he goes.Shedding: When you’re living in a small space, it can be tough to keep things clean. The last thing you want is a thin layer of dog hair covering everything that you own. So, as you research the many fabulous indoor dog breeds out there, consider how much grooming will be required to keep their coats healthy and how much they’ll shed. A dog that doesn’t shed much can make it easier to keep your indoor space spotless. So, this is important.Exercise Needs: If you choose a dog that will need a lot of exercise and you lead a busy lifestyle or you just don’t like going outside much, everyone in the relationship will be unhappy. Thankfully, there are some dog breeds that don’t mind getting small amounts of physical activity every day. Choosing a dog who enjoys playing inside with his toys, and who can be mentally stimulated with a range of puzzle toys, might be your best option. That’s definitely better than getting a dog that needs a lot of exercise and prefers to run around outside in a big open space. 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Enigmatic Respiratory Illness Targets Dogs – These Are The Symptoms

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